Goldman's reporting spans data center projects in four US states
Positive users agree data center opposition stems mainly from NIMBYism and water myths rather than AI hatred, while negative users cite poor industry PR and legitimate local concerns.
@AndyMasley U do feel like the "AI is gonna replace you" stuff providesa hook for the NIMBYism and the enviro-myths. Kinda the same way the associations with nuclear weapons and Chernobyl provided the hook for the anti-nuclear movement
@AndyMasley will has a gift for finding intra-left scissor statements
There definitely are some crazy conspiracy theories going around - it's nuts. But I have covered 4 different AI data center projects on the ground (Louisiana, Texas, Arizona and Michigan) and there are plenty of local folks worked up for legitimate reasons re land use, energy, water concerns, lack of transparency, lack of local govt power, etc. it's not just NIMBY-ism and developers and hyperscalers need to take the pushback seriously and not be condescending. People do live in these places.
@AndyMasley Maybe a coucil should be like "sure you can build here but you have to pay $1 a gallon for water use"
~~would quell complaints while actually costing the data center almost nothing~~
@AndyMasley Begs the question: why is this happening?
@AndyMasley Very common Stancil W.
@AndyMasley It do be like that mr stancil
@AndyMasley Sort of reminds me of MAHA, a coalition between trial lawyers who saw it as a way to rein in Big Ag and chiropractors, wellness influencers, etc.
We're seeing that play out and it's not like the anti-big ag side is racking up wins....
@AndyMasley I'm surprised Will Stancil doesn't connect hate for ai/tech to willingness to believe the silly water lies. Isn't that sort of thing a big part of his world view?
@Tylerkaerr @AndyMasley Some people dislike going crazy
I'm just not seeing the numbers back the concerns up for the most part outside of energy. Like data centers don't seem to purchase more land than a normal farm. There's not a clear pattern in electricity prices rising so far. And they seem to mostly draw the same water as other industries or medium-sized farms.
@AndyMasley I totally agree in this specific case, but the thing is that this is true to one degree or another of literally every issue. No matter what you believe there are idiots and lunatics who agree with you!
@AndyMasley
@AndyMasley Big data doesn't censor anger; they fund and direct it toward safe, pre-selected targets.
They steer young people looking for purpose into these lunatic echo chambers, where they waste their time posting, viewing ads, and looking insane, rather than meaningfully opposing big AI.
@NelsonEdmundb @AndyMasley They would say not only are they giving our land for these DCs, but also selling away our waterrr waaaa. It would be unbearable.
@dsnakenbacon @AndyMasley AI industry couldn't have run a worse PR campaign for their emerging tech. Same goes for all the employers publicly giddy at the idea of AI layoffs. They're seeding their own discontent tbqh.
@AndyMasley I'm convinced the water fear mongering was a psyop to distract from any real concerns
#1 obviously being noise
You can force them to use air cooled chillers with a closed loop system
Power might be a concern in some places, increasing cost for locals
But sound is key
@AndyMasley Stancil is a sane man in an insane world.
@AndyMasley @jongeeting Love it
@Tylerkaerr @AndyMasley Being crazy’s a great solo venture, but makes for a bad team game